Open AccessElevated Urinary 1‐HOP, NNN, and NNAL in Smokers with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Author(s) -
Khariwala Samir,
Hatsukami Dorothy,
Stepanov Irina,
Hecht Stephen,
Fernandes Patricia,
Lassig Amy Anne D.,
Yueh Bevan
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599811416318a78
Subject(s) - medicine , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , urine , hop (telecommunications) , urinary system , carcinogen , tobacco smoke , lung cancer , gastroenterology , basal cell , cancer , physiology , head and neck cancer , chemistry , computer network , environmental health , organic chemistry , computer science
Objective Tobacco metabolites have been shown to be markers of tobacco exposure as well as markers of lung cancer risk. To this point, tobacco metabolites have not been studied in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We seek to study tobacco metabolites in smokers with (subjects) and without (controls) HNSCC. Method Smokers with head and neck cancer were enrolled after they completed a detailed smoking history questionnaire. Urine samples were collected in standard fashion. Controls consisted of smokers without HNSCC. Urinary levels of total 1‐hydroxypyrene (1‐HOP) and total 4‐(Methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐Pyridyl)‐1‐Butanol (NNAL) and N′‐nitrosonornicotine (NNN) were assayed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results In this pilot study, NNN data were available in 27 subjects, NNAL in 19 subjects, and 1‐HOP in 18 subjects. Control matching for NNN was done with a 1:1 ratio. Controls were matched on cigarettes per day in a 3:1 ratio for NNAL and 1‐HOP to increase power. T test was used to compare study subjects with controls. Mean levels for subjects (S) and controls (C) were: NNN [S:0.12 pmol/ml, C:0.06 pmol/ml ( P =. 06)], NNAL [S:1.53 pmol/ml, C:1.25 pmol/ml ( P =. 3)], and 1‐HOP [S:1.88 pmol/ml, C:0.84 pmol/ml ( P =. 001)], respectively. Conclusion 1) Smokers with HNSCC have higher urinary 1‐HOP (significant) and NNN (near significant) compared with matched controls. 2) The data suggest smokers who develop HNSCC process carcinogens differently than smokers without HNSCC. 3) This data is a first step toward understanding why some smokers develop carcinoma while others do not.